Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 590-100, Dick Freedom, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Freedom Dick
B.L.Wt. 590-100
CONTENTS

No. 590.
Dick Freedom.
Private.
Connecticut Line. —
Warrant issued in the name of Dick Freedom, May 25 th 1812. and del d to the Hon ble S r J. L. Mitchell on the 27 th of same month.
J. B.

Dick Freedom enlisted for and served to the in the 2 d Congregational Regt End of the War, as appears by the final settlement Certificate No 41173 issued for his Gratuity Dept of War Hearst Office Jan 2 - 1812. C.H.

To the Honorable William Eustis Secretary of the Department of War of the United States of America
The Petition of Dick Freedom of the City of New York, a black man, Respectfully Sheweth
That your petitioner in the year of our Lord 1777 enlisted as a Soldier in a company commanded by Captain Mansfield of the Fourth or Leather Cap Connecticut Regiment, to serve until the termination of the late Revolutionary War; That he continued in the said Regiment until its reduction, when he was removed to the Second Connecticut Regiment then commanded by Colonel Heman Swift - And that the Petitioner served in the said Second Regiment until the war ended, when he received his regular discharge
And your petitioner further Sheweth, that he some years since lost his said discharge by accident; at which period he resided in the town of North Hampton in Massachusetts. That he has not since been able to regain the same, but refers to the annexed affidavits as testimonials of his military Service
And your petitioner further Shews that he

he understands that he is entitled for his services as aforesaid to a warrant for Military Bounty Land, and being in very poor & necessitous cir- cumstances he humbly prays that a warrant may be issued in his favor - Dated New York January 14 th 1812 Witness James Buckmaster
his Dick Freedom mark
State of New York }: Dick Freedom being duly sworn deposes and says that the circumstances stated in the foregoing petition relative to the military service performed by him and the loss of his discharge are true
Sworn the 14 th day of } January 1812 before me } Jn. L. Lawrence Master in Chancery
his Dick Freedom mark
State of New York }: I John L. Lawrence one of the Masters of the Court of Chancery for the State of New York Do hereby certify that Dick Freedom to me known to be the person mentioned in the annexed depositions of Bryan Roseter and Walter Butler this day appeared before me and made the foregoing oath; that I believe the said Dick Freedom to be a man of veracity & truth. Dated January 14 th 1812
Jn. L. Lawrence Master in Chancery

I Dick Freedom do hereby authorize the Honorable Samuel L. Mitchell to receive for me, any warrant for military bounty lands to which may be issued in my favor by the Hon. Secretary of War of the United States in con- sequence of the services detailed in the annexed petition and affidavits - Dated January 14 th 1812
Witnesses present, Jn. L. Lawrence James Buckmaster
his Dick X Freedom mark
State of New York Jr: I John L. Lawrence one of the Masters of the Court of Chancery of the State of New York Do hereby Certify that on the 14 th day of January 1812 Dick Freedom to me known to be the person named in the above order or authorization, appeared before me and subscribed the same in my presence
Jn. L. Lawrence Master in Chancery

State of New York Jr: I John J Sickels a Public Notary of the State of New York duly com- missioned and sworn do hereby certify that John L. Lawrence whose name is subscribed to the certificates herunto annexed is one of the Masters of the Court of Chancery of the said State - And that the signatures to the said certificates are of the proper hand writing of the said John L. Lawrence -
In testimony Whereof I have hereto set my hand and Seal of office the 10 th day of January 1812 at the City of New York -
John J Sickels Not: Pub: Not.

State of New York
City of New York. J. Bryan Roseter of the City of New York Fruiterer being duly sworn deposes and says that he the deponent entered the Fourth Connecticut Regiment commanded by Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs in the year 1777. and was a sergeant therein. That he continued in the said Regiment until the latter part of the year 1782 when the same was reduced; and a part thereof (among which number he the deponent was) was annexed to the Second Connecticut Regiment commanded by Colonel Herman Swift. And that he served in the said Second Regiment until the end of the war when he was regularly discharged.
And this deponent saith that he is well acquainted with Dick Freedom a black man who is now present at the time of his making this deposition. That the said Dick Freedom enlisted as a soldier in the said Fourth Connecticut Regiment commanded by Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs some time in the year 1777. That the said Dick Freedom enlisted to serve during the war and did actually serve to the end of it. That the said Dick was a soldier in the said Connecticut Fourth Regiment until the latter part of the year 1782 when the said

Said Fourth Regiment was reduced and parts of the same were annexed to the first, Second, and third Connecticut Regiments. That among those Soldiers of the said Fourth Regiment who were attached after its reduction, to the Second Connecticut Regiment, then commanded by Colonel Herman Swift, was the said Dick Freedom, who served in the said Second Regiment to the end of the war and was regularly discharged.
And this deponent further says that the said Dick Freedom was a good and faithful Soldier during his time of Service.
Sworn the 18 th day of January 1812 Before me
Bryan Rosheter
James Warner Special Justice
City of New York ss: I James Warner
Special Justice of the Peace Do hereby Certify that Bryan Rosheter the deponent named in the aforegoing deposition taken before me, is to me known, and that he is entitled to credit and belief. Dated the 18 th day of January 1812
James Warner Special Justice of the Peace in and for the City and County of New York

State of New York
City of New York } Walter Butler of the City of New York Porter being duly sworn deposes and says that he entered the fourth Connecticut Regiment commonly called the Regiment of Leather Caps in the year 1777 and remained in the said Regiment about two years as nearly as he can recollect; that he then went into a regiment of infantry where he served until said regiment was disbanded; when he went into a regiment commanded by Colonel Herman Swift and served therein until discharged at the termination of the war —
That when this deponent was a soldier in the fourth or Leather Cap Regiment, Dick Freedom a black man now present at the time of his making this deposition was a soldier in the said fourth Regiment. That he the deponent knew the said Dick Freedom as a soldier during the whole war. That he the deponent always understood and verily believes that the said Dick Freedom enlisted to serve during the war; and that to this deponent's knowledge the said Dick Freedom did actually serve to the end of it.
Sworn the 11 th day of January 1812 before me Isaac Hulse Dist. Atty
Walter Butler

City of New York } I
do hereby Certify that I am acquainted with Walter Butler the deponent whose name is subscribed to the deposition on the other side written; and that the said Walter is entitled to credit and belief. Dated the eleventh day of January 1812
Isaac Keeler Dist. Atty. 4 th Ward City of New York
State of New York } I John L. Lawrence a Public Notary of the State of New York duly commissioned and sworn do hereby certify that James Warner whose Signature appears to one of the certificates hereto annexed is one of the Special Justices of the Peace in and for the City and County of New York and that the said Signature is of the proper hand writing of the said James Warner - And further that the Signature of Isaac Keeler which appears to another of the certificates hereto annexed is of the proper hand writing of the said Isaac Keeler - and that he the said Isaac Keeler is the Assistant Justice of the fourth Ward of the City of New York
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at the City of New York the 10 th day of January 1812
Jn. L. Lawrence
Not: Pub.

Dick Freedom.
Instituted by Dr. Mitchell.
26 Jan. 1812.
Don. P. 22 Jan. 1812.
Sec. 7 at
William Eustis

Washing Eagle
Wash.
I beg you to do what is possible in the case of Dick Thompson , whom you wrote to me about, a few weeks ago. Will you lay them before the Secy. and do what is proper and oblige your friend Sara L. ...

Nathaniel Cutting Esq
Wandsworth

Dick Freedom and others, an inquiry in to their titles to land reques- ted by Hon S. L. Mitchell
Noted on Pl: 17 th Dec r 1871. N.W. 19 th Dec r .
Rec d Dec 16 th 1871

Wittington
I ask your and my dear Sir, in an- suring the enclosed letter.
Smurfit
16th Dec. 1812

Samuel L. Mitchell LL.D
New York Dec. 12 th 1811
Dear Sir
I am applied to for assistance in obtaining military warrants for a black man named "Dick Freedom" & for the heirs of William Jacobs
Freedom was a soldier in the Connecticut Line during the whole war & belonged to a regiment successively commanded by Col Meigs, Col Butter, Col Webb.
The regiment to which he belonged was I think the 4 th
Jacobs enlisted in the Revolution as a sergeant under Capt. Clap of Stamford Connecticut served three years at the expiration whereof he was discharged being wounded in the arm & head - Afterwards he served as a Capt n of militia & was taken prisoner -
In 1789 or 1790 he lodged his certificate of discharge & service in the War Office in the City of New York & from that time to 1800 he drew a pension from Govt. - He has since died leaving a widow & children.
The United States Laws passed subsequent to the pension of 1808 — 9 are not to be had here - I find that on the 21 st March 1808 an act was passed by Congress extending the time for issuing locating military land warrants to the 1 st March 1810 - Will you be so good as to inform me whether an act has not been passed extending the time still further? & to apprize me also of the proper steps to be taken in order to obtain military land warrants for these applicants in case they should appear to be entitled to them? I am Sir Respectfully Yours &c. J. L. Lawrence

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Freedom, Jack GRADE Private LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 5795 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Sept. 15, 1790 to Nich ls Root
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Freedom, Ned GRADE Private LINE Connecticut (Freeman)
In pencil, only.
WARRANT NUMBER 5766 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 12, 1792
to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.